[from the diary of Daniel D. Logan, younger brother of General Thomas M. Logan, formerly a Sgt, Co. B, 1st Special Battalion (Rightor’s), now with the Hampton Legion]
Wednesday – May 21st 1862
Felt abt as miserably well as
a chill & fever ever can feel on
“well days” – Walked down town
& returned to 9th Street Hospitality
by three o’c – where I spent the
balance of this day –
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 6154
[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Wednesday 21st One letter from Willie Hamlin–the ladies all went to the
Halls & Libraries–Lieutenant Murder arrived last night & Mr Johnston
with his bride from Plymouth–He made his escape from the Yankees
who intended to entrap him–As he was a paroled prisoner who
had not returned to them–But he got married 3 nights sooner than
they intended & came off–Julius Wright came down to day
for his Sister Kate who is at Mrs Hargarves with the Bradleys
They leave for Wilmington on next tuesday–He sat the eve-
ning or part of it with Eliza–Mr Nicolson paid her a
visit too–At night all the ladies came down making quite
a parlor full–& the girls entertained them with the piano
MSS 6960
[from the diary of Samuel Johnson of the 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]
May 21st
Reveille was blown at five A. M
harnessed and packed up, and by seven
were again in motion. At three P. M.
after a long and very fatiguing march, we
halted and encamped at Cold Harbor,
some seven miles from Richmond and
two from the Chicahominy. We are expecting
a battle in a very few days. Pleasant
and very warm.
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 8493
[from the diary of Lt. John Tyler of the Letcher Artillery]
May 21st. Very warm today. Con-
-ducted N.C.O. drill at 10 ½ o’c, after-
-wards, commenced a letter to Jennie.
Had Battery drill at 3 o’c. After tea went
to see Col Marshall, sat with him until
tattoo. Then came back to my letter, wrote
until near 11 o’c then retired. Clouds give
evidence of a thunder shower. We had one
last night.
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 6150
[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]
Wednesday night, May 21, 1862.
The town quiet all day. A report that Jackson is a-
bout to attack the enemy at Narrow Pass on the Valley turn-
pike, where they are fortifying. He has been reinforced by
a Louisiana Brigade — Ewell’s division (or a part of it) moving
back towards Richmond. These are the reports — dont know how
much is true. The enemy have appeared at or very near Hanover
C.H. They are evidently trying to surround Richmond and cut
off supplies, avoiding a battle whenever possible. A letter from
Frazier, written this morning, says he hurried home (Rockbridge
Alum Springs) on Monday to get his family off to Lexington
as a place of safety — but he heard the enemy were in Bu-
chanan and threatening Lexington. Consequently he was
looking to Staunton as a place of refuge. The rumor of a small
body of the enemy being at Buchanan, had reached here by other
channels — not fully credited. Reports of further operations
in Giles co. highly advantageous to us. [I often mention rumors
which turn out to be untrue, and many details are incorrect as stated — but I do not gene-
rally correct such ones, principally because of the impossibility of obtaining perfectly
reliable intelligence.
[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow project]
MSS 38-258
[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]
Tuesday, May 20
Glorious news today. Two of their gun boats went within seven miles of Richmond
and were repulsed with severe loss by well poised guns from our fortifications.
One of the boats was the celebrated Monitor. Banks is a a loss to know where
Jackson is and this worries them a great deal. Our victory at Farmington is
highly serviceable to our Western cause.
MSS 9759
Powhatan Hotel Richmond
May 20 1862
Col. John D Imboden
Dear Colonel
I have been
busy to day endeavoring to get the Ranger
business straightened up I find the offici-
als all desposed[sic]to hold to their pre-con=
ceived opinions, and not much dis=
posed to extend the rigidity of their rules.
Gov Letcher will not under any circum
stances consent to the transfer of the
Guerillias to the Ranger’s alledging, that
he has no authority. The most feasible
plan suggested is that the North-Western
men now in service be permitted to
go into the Ranger’s. Mr Russell says that
if the men themselves would present
a petition to the Govmt earnestly
requesting to be transferred that he and
others would at once back it up
with an earnest desire that the
petition be granted,–I will to-night
wrigtht[sic] to some of the men in the
31st & 25 and if it be their wish to
unite with us, we can prepare the
[page 2]
petition and have our friends here
to urge it upon the administra-
tion. Mr Russell will leave in the
morning for Halifax Co where he proposes
to leave his family with John R. Edmunds.
He desires me to say that he will do all
in his power to aid in raising the Regt.
and that if you need his assistance he
will meet you here at any time you
will either write to him or me
here, I think if you will come
down the last of this week or the
first of next and beseige the Depart=
ment that more favorable terms for the
enlistment of the Rangers might be ob=
tained No news here to-night excepting
that Heath & Marshall had a complete
victory over cox near Dublin Depot,
routing him totally, capturing numerous
prisoners and stores. It is also said
that the enemy are slowly ad
vancing upon Johnson,
Very truly &c
W P Thompson
[Colonel W. P. Thompson, 18237-1896, of the 19th Virginia ?]
MSS 38-23
[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts]
Tuesday
May 20
Staid in the tent and read papers
and a book which I got at the
chaplains. Were turned out twice last night
on account of the pickets firing at some
horses,which were running around loose.
The first time we went over the creek (Co. F.)
Wrote home this afternoon and also read.
Also got another book against Universalism.
MSS 11293
[from the diary of Frank Fitzhugh of Cutshaw’s Battery
Tuesday 20
Camped to night in – Gibbon Conways river field. Passed through
Stanardsville about 11 Oclock. A. M.
[from the diary of Lt. John Tyler of the Letcher Artillery]
May 20th Up at 4 ½ o’c
to Roll call as Battery officer. Sent letter
to Jennie & one to Pa by Charlie Mas-
-murdo who went to Richmond also
a bundle of clothes to Ma. Rec-d orders
this morning to be ready to move at
a moments notice. Rec-d a letter from
Jennie. (although I record this in a very
matter of fact way, the reception of letters
from her gives me more pleasure than anything
that transpires in camp.) Conducted Company
drill this afternoon at 3 o’c, afterwards
rode with Ellis over to ( we didn’t know where
till we got there) Maj. Walkers encampment
and saw three batteries drilling. Willie
Pegram’s compy drill very well. Saw
from a hill in the neighborhood, some
of the Yankee tents on the opposite side
of the river. We raced our horses coming
back.
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 6150
